At Least 47 Die in Zimbabwe When Buses Collide

By The Associated Press

Nov. 8, 2018

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Two long-distance buses in Zimbabwe have collided on a road after one of them tried to overtake two trucks, killing at least 47 people and injuring dozens more in a country with a reputation for poor roads and bad driving.

The two buses slammed into each other near Rusape, about 100 miles east of the capital, Harare, on Wednesday evening, said a police spokesman, Paul Nyathi. The death toll could rise because 80 people were admitted to the hospital, some with serious injuries.

One bus tried to pass two large trucks on a stretch of the road where overtaking is prohibited, causing the collision, the state broadcaster reported, citing Ellen Gwaradzimba, the provincial minister for Manicaland Province. Both buses were speeding, she said.

The number of dead has overwhelmed Rusape, where the morgue can accommodate no more than 16 bodies, according to The Herald, a state-run newspaper.

Bus accidents are frequent in the southern African country. Bus crews try to make as many trips as possible each day in order to make more money, which effectively creates a financial incentive to speed.

The road where the accident took place was recently resurfaced as part of government efforts to repair collapsing road infrastructure.